Dress-form



(No Model.)

R. L. DODGE.

DRESS FORM.

No. 411,428. Patented Sept. 24, 1889.`

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

RODOLPH L. DODGE, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

DRESS-FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,428, dated September 24, 1889.

Application filed November 20, 1888. Serial No. 291,413 (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, RODOLPH L. DODGE, of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Dress- Skirt Forms; and I do hereby declare t-hat the following' is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable forms for iittin g and drapin g skirts, and is designed especially to make a skirtform universally adjustable, each part independently of all the others, by means of right and left threaded turn-buckles uniting arms on the collars and ribs, said arms having threads to correspond with the threads in the turn-buckle.

It consists of collars sliding on a suitable supporting-standard, the waist-collar having fixed right threaded arms and the hip and knee collars having pivoted right threaded arms, flexible ribs with clips, the clips at the waist having fixed left threaded arms, and those at the hip and knee having pivoted left threaded arms, and right and left threaded turn-buckles uniting arms on collars to arms on clips, in manner as hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved dress-form. Fig. 2 is a detail in section showin g arrangement of parts for adjusting waist. Fig. 3 is a detail in section, with supporting-rod and arms in elevation, showing arrangement of parts for adjusting the hip portion, (the knee part would be the same 5) and Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective showing manner of attaching clips to the ribs.

In a base b of suitable form is set a perpendicular rod c, upon which the skirt-form is hung. On rod a are mounted the sliding collars c c ci, having thumb set-screws Z Z Z2, to hold the collars at any desired elevation. In collars c are set rigidly the radiating arms (l, and in collars c c2 are pivotally set the radiatin g arms d d2, respectively. Flexible ribs j, arranged in pairs, have on their upper ends clips f, and at hip and knee parts the clips f f2, respectively. Clips f carry rigid arms e. Arms d and c have right and left threads cut on them, and are united by double turn-buckles I, the turn-buckles used in the waist, hip, and knee parts being the same.

The upper ends of each pair of ribs, it will be observed, are entirely independent of each other, but at the same time are rigidly connected to the collar c, the size ofthe waistbein g adjustable by means of the turn-buckles,the hip and knee parts capable of a like independent adjustment, and in addition,when it is desired to make a uniform contraction or expansion of the ribs, this can be effected by loosening the thumb-screws Z Z2 and lowering the collar c or c2, as the case may be. This latter method of adjustment is adapted to secure quickly the approximate size, after which the exact shape of each part can be secured by means ofthe turn-buckles, in manner as set forth.

The pivoted arms d di are set in recesses m in collars c c2, turning on and held in place by wire s, passing around the collar. The pivoted arms e e2 are set in slots u in post o, erected at the center of clips f f2, respectively. l

Olips f f2 are fully illustrated in Fig. il. Each consists of a -metal strip having its ends divided into three sections, the two outside ones being bent around the rib in one direction, and the middle one, made somewhat shorter than the others, being bent in the opposite direction. The clips are to be held in place on the ribs by solder poured into'the open space w, formed by making the middle section shorter than the others. This method of attachment gives a firm support, and. obviates a tendency of the ribs to twist out of shape when the clips are attached by bending the wires of the ribs.

To raise and lower the skirt-form on the rod a. with one hand, loosen thumb-screw l, and, retaining it in the hand, loosen the other two thumb-screws, and the form can be moved up or down at will.

Each pair of ribs is bent at the top at 7e so as to form the part r parallel with the rod a, the straight parts r being long enough and ICO serving for the fitting ofthe waistband. From the points 7c the ribs curve outward and down- Ward. The tops, being rigidly connected to the collar o, keep the form when fitted permanently in shape.

Having thus described my invention an d its use, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The combination, With Collars c c' c2, sliding on a suitable supporting-standard, said collar o having fixed right threaded arms d, and said Collars c c2 having pivoted right threaded arms CZ d2, respectively, and flexible ribs united by clips and having fixed left threaded arms e and pivoted left threaded arms e e2, of turn-buckles having a right thread in one end and a left thread in the other uniting arms e and CZ, e and CZ', and e2 and d2, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

RUDOLPH L. DODGE. Witnesses:

ELGIN C. VERRILL, IIARRIET E. LYNCH. 

